Smith’s the man for all seasons

Nationwide Conference Woking 1 Oxford United 0 A SPRING-HEELED finish from a player in the autumn of his career warmed up a cold winter’s Tuesday night at Kingfield. And in the moment he stooped to head a wonderful 13th minute winner — his first league goal of the season — Neil Smith proved he is a man for all seasons.

The Cards’ skipper led the way in a gutsy display from Glenn Cockerill’s men — who went in front — then used every trick in the book to frustrate and upset an Oxford side who probably wouldn’t have scored if they had all been given a ball each. Without a league win for two months, and with just one win in 11 matches, United boss Jim Smith would normally be pulling his hair out, if only he had any. How he would love his team to produce even a scrappy win. Possession may be nine tenths of the law but it doesn’t always win you football matches and, although the visitors dominated, particularly in the second half, they reckoned against Woking’s spirit, typified by the magnificent Karl Murray who was filling in at centre half. His manager may see him as a worker and not a footballer but Murray showed he has the heart of a lion with timely interceptions, blocks, headed clearances and superb reading of the game. He was immense. But this victory was not just about Smith and Murray, it was down to a collective unit galvanised by the influx of new players who have given the Cards a fresh outlook. On loan centre back Jason Pearce was superb alongside Murray, while Danny Bunce and Adam Green did effective jobs at full back. Smith and Neil Barrett worked tremendously hard in the centre of midfield while up front Jamie Taylor and Craig McAllister showed neat touches and did what they could to hold on to the ball, which was often launched from deep in desperation as the contest wore on. The one disappointment was Giuseppe Sole, who faded dramatically in the second half and may need an occasional rest from the pressure of playing week in, week out, in a struggling team. The remarkable aspect of Woking beating Oxford — albeit at a good time to play them — was that it was achieved with a disjointed looking back four. Many wondered about the wisdom of not recalling natural centre half Karim El Salahi from his loan spell, while starting with Murray at centre back, and left-sided Danny Bunce in an unaccustomed right back role when he is so blatantly one footed. It also meant Green’s attacking flair was stifled as he was forced to play at left back to cover Bunce. But while El Salahi’s days at Woking after obviously numbered, few can say the tactic backfired when three points were achieved. It didn’t stop Green setting up the only goal of the game either — his sweetly executed cross from deep swerving in from the left towards the penalty spot. The ball was too high for the run of McAllister. But Smith propelled himself forward from around 14 yards and thumped a wonderful, low, diving header past Billy Turley’s despairing dive. Cue 1,500 cheers. With Latvian striker Kris Grebis looking a handful up front, and Carl Pettefer able to create in midfield, Oxford pushed on as Woking sat back but the visitors’ finishing let them down, the two best chances falling to left back Gavin Johnson, who screwed both efforts wide from good positions, one of them deflected. Cards’ keeper James Bittner dived full length to make a fine save from Danny Rose just after half time, with the second half a stop-start affair punctuated by injuries, stoppages, and go-slow tactics from Cockerill’s men Smith, Murray and Pearce in particular made heroic clearances leaving Bittner with hardly a save to make. But while Woking still looked dangerous on the break, and their spoiling strategy worked a treat as they held on for victory, they were not exactly pleasing to the eye. “This is a scandal,” screeched one commentator on an Oxford radio station, as the Cards produced new material for their very own time-wasting manual. “It’s an absolute joke, it’s shameful,” he added later, when Goma Lambu stayed down hurt. So much for impartial viewing. But few could blame Cockerill — who preferred not to speak to reporters afterwards — as he knows it is results, not entertainment value, which will keep him in a job. As for Smith, he was jubilant. “Scoring that goal has gone above all the good times I’ve had at the club,” he said. “We’ve got a young team, which is a bit mix and match but they showed real character, every one of them. If I can do that for the boys and they can take something from it, then that’s great.” The skipper is prepared to help his young team-mates but he has another motivation. “The boys are starting their careers and I’m in my twilight, but I want another contract,” he said. “Every game out there, I’m on trial. So if I can put another little message in the manager’s eye that I’m still capable of running around for him, then hopefully he’ll take that on board.” Few would begrudge Smith the chance of an Indian summer in a Woking shirt. Woking: Bittner, Bunce, Murray, Pearce, Green, Lambu (Berquez 82), Smith (S Cockerill 90), Barrett, Sole, McAllister, Taylor (Marum 76). Att: 2,228.